It's fun to say these things out loud, if only because we won't always be able to do so. And while the slow starts of Pujols and Hamilton have contributed to the team's poor showing, and the offense overall has been below average, the Angels find themselves in fourth place as April draws to a close because they have done a lousy job of preventing runs.

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Xavier Cedeno recently joined a not-quite-exclusive club that no pitcher wants to be a part of.

Astros left-hander Xavier Cedeño had a problem last Friday against the A's. He entered with one out in the fifth inning and his team trailing, 1-0. Twenty-eight pitches later, he departed with one out and his team trailing, 6-0. As if that wasn't enough, the man he left on first base later came around to score.

An error by Marwin “No Perfecto for Yu” González didn't help, but still... the most Astros named pitcher ever may have just had the most Astros 2013 pitching performance ever. Cedeño's final line is a thing of horrific beauty: 0 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 0 K.

Opening Day brings new beginnings and reminders of our past that come together to play a single tune.

There have been other Opening Days, other games, other seasons. After a while, they all blend together, lines in a larger song forming a melody that is difficult to dissect without conscious effort.

Opening Day marks a new beginning, a rebirth, a reaffirmation of all that is good in the world. Or it at least gives us the illusion of such things, along with an excuse to expound on them in saccharine prose. Tomorrow we will return to more mundane concerns, but today let us pretend at perfection.

Spring training is an excellent time to lose sleep, catch up with friends, make your broadcasting debut, and see which players have good bodies.

The box score indicates 83 degrees at game time, but I was there and it was hotter. Perched on tall metal stools along the right-field line with headsets on and studio lights shining in our eyes, we call the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings on television.

It is more aimless babbling and less delivery of facts, but it is fun in our minds, which is the best place for fun. Six of us sit sweltering under the unforgiving Arizona sun as the Padres mount a late comeback and beat the Angels in a meaningless March contest. If you listen closely, you can hear me offer such astounding insights as “wow!” and “oh!” on a Gregorio Petit two-run single during said comeback.

Don't expect the Rockies and Padres to compete in the NL West with their current rotation options.

Two of the most extreme ballparks in baseball are home to National League West teams. Coors Field inflates offense, while Petco Park destroys it. Neither the Rockies nor the Padres are expected to contend in 2013, and a lack of quality starting pitching is a large part of the reason in both cases. Despite their different environments, these two teams face the same problem.

Players are supposed to arrive at spring training in the best shape of their lives, but writers sometimes need a bit longer to awake from their winter slumber.

Spring training is finally here again. Games are on television. It is exciting, but in truth, these early games are rough to watch. The first pitch I saw in 2013 was from Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg to Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. The ball landed over the left-center-field fence. As a friend remarked on Facebook, “Now, Strasburg knows which part of the strike zone Tejada hits for power.”

Sure, but does anyone want to see Strasburg serve up homers to a hitter like Tejada? Actually, the answer to that is an emphatic yes. Among those who might want to see such a thing are:

San Diego has a rich baseball tradition, and many big-league stars have roots in Southern California.

The local SABR chapter held a garage sale on Saturday, and I couldn't resist. I bought an old-school Padres cap and an Oklahoma City RedHawks cap for myself. (I'd stopped to see a RedHawks game while driving from San Diego to Cooperstown for Tony Gwynn's Hall of Fame induction in 2007.) I bought a Fresno Grizzlies cap for my wife. She likes bears.

I reminded her that the Grizzlies are a Giants affiliate. She still likes bears.

The Astros aren't great now, but once upon a time, Jimmy Wynn, Jose Cruz, and Cesar Cedeno made them look respectable. Also, a look at what would have been written in BP Annuals of the '60s and '70s.

While researching a recent article about players who received zero or one career Hall of Fame vote, I stumbled across a personal favorite: Jimmy Wynn. Despite being small enough to earn the nickname “Toy Cannon,” he posted ridiculous numbers for the Astros in a venue that depressed offense.